After the talk show was over, Ryan got a case of the jitters. He drove the van around the block and parked on a side street. If he sat for too long in one spot, someone might get suspicious. Another hour passed. Finally, Jamie came out. Alone this time. Thank God. Ryan resisted the urge to sit up and stare. He watched, peering over the dashboard, as Jamie climbed into her Toyota. She was so beautiful with the sunlight bouncing off her blond hair and white teeth. A goddess. Soon to be his goddess.
Ryan waited until her car was moving down the street before starting the van. Jamie had her travel bag with her and that worried him a little. This was Sunday, the day she spent her afternoons with the little girl. He had counted on that pattern for his plan to work. What if she went home instead? Did he have the nerve to take Jamie from her bedroom in her sleep? He knew he could get into the house; he had done it once already. Jamie hadn’t even blinked a pretty eye. He watched her for a full five minutes, overjoyed just to be that close to her. A quick zap with the Taser, and it would be like carrying a big sleeping kid out to the car. No, her father was in the house, and Ted Conner made him nervous.
Ryan didn’t think he could wait another week for the perfect opportunity.
Chapter 18
Searching the CODIS database for someone with a record of trespassing, sexual assault, and/or assault and battery was like searching a romance novel convention for a woman. Jackson thought it would have been easier to find the few criminals on file who had not committed any of those crimes. Narrowing the age group didn’t help much. Even limiting the search to the Eugene/Springfield area produced seventy-one names.
It was a start. Page by page, he scanned each of the files, looking for a connection to Lane Community College, criminal charges for hate crimes, or homophobic expressions of any kind. After three hours, he’d narrowed the list to seven suspects, five of whom were still on probation. They would start with these seven, then gradually expand the list until they had looked at all seventy-one men—if they had to.
Jackson checked the corner of his computer: 4:45 p.m. Where was Katie? She should have been back from Adam’s by now. Had he given her a time to come home? No, he’d forgotten. That was foolish. He’d been thinking about this case and feeling relieved she was leaving so he could work at home without guilt. Jackson decided to give Katie a little time. He started a list of things do for the morning. His first stop would be the county parole and probation office.
As Jamie drove toward central Eugene, she had second thoughts about taking Brianna to the park. The sky had filled with clouds and it threatened to rain. Maybe they would go to the library. Brianna loved the new Eugene library with its grand circular staircase and sunlit interior. Jamie usually got a kick out of looking at all the children’s books too. It might cheer her up.
She turned on 28th and thought about the little market on the next corner, where she always stopped and picked up a soda for herself and a box of Cracker Jacks for Brianna. The girl loved candied popcorn, but her foster mother never bought it for her. Jamie pulled into the side lot and parked her car under the big tree that towered over the back of the store from the vacant property next door. She always parked here, just as she always parked in the same area when she went to the mall or the grocery store. It helped her find her car. There were so many blue Toyotas in Eugene. Jamie laughed. Not that it mattered in this small parking lot, but she liked consistency anyway.
As she reached to shut off the engine, Jamie remembered she didn’t have any cash on her. Her whole life had been thrown off course by Raina’s death, and she hadn’t been to a bank or store in days. She wasn’t going to put a three-dollar purchase on her father’s credit card. That was not what it was for, her dad had cautioned, and she didn’t want to lose the privilege of carrying the emergency card. Jamie put the Toyota in reverse and backed out, nearly colliding with a van that was pulling in next to her. Yikes! She slammed on the brakes, gave the driver a friendly wave, and waited for him to park.
Moving a little more cautiously, Jamie headed back onto the road. Brianna would be disappointed but would quickly forget about the popcorn when she heard they were going to the library. Jamie reminded herself to stop at an ATM later to get cash. She needed to buy a black dress for Raina’s funeral.
Fuck! Ryan cursed so loudly, he worried Jamie might have heard him as she drove away. What had happened? Jamie always stopped at the little store and then sat in her car for a minute getting her money out. This was supposed to be his opportunity. The overhanging tree, the fence, and the windowless side of the store created a little pocket of low visibility. Jamie’s delay in getting out of the car was supposed to give him time to climb in the back of the van, open the side door a little, and be ready, Taser in hand, for when she got out of her car.
She had driven off instead. Fuck! Had she seen him following her and been spooked? Of course not, idiot. She’d waved at him. Ryan took a deep breath and backed out. He would make a new plan and it would be okay. First, he had to catch up with Jamie. She was not being as predictable today, so he’d have to stay with her very closely and wait for another opportunity. But he didn’t plan to wait long. He had needs.
Sophie had her camera and recorder sitting on the kitchen table, even though the candlelight vigil was not until seven o’clock. She didn’t expect to come away with anything but photos, but she preferred to be prepared. Would the murderer attend Raina’s vigil? She had the idea that sometimes killers attended their victims’ funerals.
Sophie checked her e-mail again, then called Jasmine Parker’s cell phone. Was Jasmine working this weekend? It was better not to call her at the lab, but Sophie was feeling anxious.
“Hey, Sophie. What’s up?” Jasmine didn’t sound like she was at work.
“Are you going to Raina Hughes’ vigil?”
“I don’t know. I should, but I really don’t care for large public gatherings.”
That was why their brief relationship had gone nowhere. Jasmine was too serious and too much of a homebody. Sophie loved gatherings of any kind and drew energy from being around people. “Did you see my story this morning?”
“Of course. It was great. You’re a talented writer, Sophie.”
“Thanks. I still don’t have any real details about these crimes though. Do you have any new leads you can share with me?”
There was a pause. Sophie could almost hear Jasmine calculating how much she could tell her. How much Sophie would owe her. Finally Jasmine said, “They have a suspect in custody for Raina’s murder.”
“No shit?” Sophie’s left brain kicked into overdrive. “Who is he? Do they think he committed the other rapes?”
“I don’t really know much. Let’s meet for a drink and I’ll tell you what I can.”
Sophie had prepared for this. “Okay, but it’s just a drink between friends.”
“I know. I know.” Jasmine sounded amused, and Sophie took it as a good sign.
“Steelhead at six o’clock.”
“See you there.”
Sophie paced around the house, overwatering her plants and straightening things that didn’t need straightening. She tried to eat a light meal, but her stomach said no thanks. She decided to visit Amy Hastings’ ex-roommate/lover. So far, Sophie knew nothing about Amy, and it had become clear Amy wouldn’t call her back.
Ten minutes later she parked in front of the residence where Amy used to live. The old house in the university neighborhood was quiet, with no lights on. Sophie knew in a moment that no one was home. She got out and knocked on the door anyway. She would come back early tomorrow morning. Sophie headed downtown to the Steelhead to wait for Jasmine.
The Steelhead was noisy and cavernous, but it had a great selection of its own microbrews. When she came for dinner, Sophie loved to sit in the old-fashioned high-back chairs. Tonight she took a seat at the bar. She ordered a First Date Stout and sipped it while she waited.
When Jasmine slid onto the seat next to her, smelling like jasmine and looking sleek and
sexy, Sophie had a pang of regret that they were only friends.
“Hey. You look great.”
“Thanks.” Jasmine gave her a bright smile. “It’s the yoga. Seriously, you should try it.”
Sophie laughed. “I’m more of a climbing wall type.”
“I know. It’s okay to slow down sometimes.”
“No thanks. This energy has to go somewhere.”
Jasmine ordered a glass of wine. Sophie asked, “Is everything all right with you?” She was anxious to get the social chitchat out of the way so she could hear Jasmine’s scoop.
“I’m doing well. I’m dating a scientist who keeps me on my toes intellectually. I like it.”
“I’m happy for you. “
After an awkward silence, Sophie blurted out, “Tell me about this case. I have to know.”
“You know I have to be careful. I don’t want to jeopardize the investigation. Or compromise myself and lose my job.”
“I know.”
Jasmine leaned over and kept her voice low. “The suspect is a guy named Bruce Gorman. He claims he found Raina dead on his property.”
“What was she doing there?” Sophie jotted down the name.
“I’m not clear about that. I only hear bits and pieces. But it has something to do with Gorman’s kid.”
“That’s weird. Do they believe him? Do they think he’s the serial rapist?”
Jasmine shrugged her slim, bare shoulders. “I don’t know. I sent Gorman’s DNA to be compared to the semen from the rape cases but the results aren’t back yet.”
“What’s your gut instinct?”
“The guy’s a creep.”
“You met him?”
“Gorman was there when we searched his property. Detective Jackson wanted him to show exactly where he found the body.”
Sophie was confused. “Why would he admit to finding the body? I mean, if he killed Raina.”
“Because they found his hair in her car.”
“No kidding? This is messy.” Sophie scribbled notes as fast as she could.
“There’s more.”
Sophie waited, not wanting to play into the drama.
“Gorman’s dog had a human bone in his mouth.”
“Holy shit!” Sophie glanced around. She’d been too loud, but no one was glaring at her. “Is Gorman a serial killer?”
Jasmine squeezed her arm. “You absolutely cannot write about this yet. But it could turn out to be a big story.”
“No kidding. Do you know anything about the bone?”
“I’m sure it’s from a child. I sent a sample to the state lab to see if we could find a DNA match with the missing persons database.” Jasmine squeezed her arm again. “The bone may not be connected to Raina or Gorman, so you can’t associate it with this case. If you do, they’ll know it was me who told you.”
“Okay. But I think I’ll do a records check of Gorman’s property. Can you get me the address?”
“It’s on Pine Grove, not too far from my house actually.” Jasmine pulled a notepad from her purse and looked for the address. “It’s 28494 Pine Grove.”
Sophie sipped her brew and decided she would head into the county records department first thing in the morning. She visualized the gray-brick building right next to the old federal courthouse and suddenly remembered Raina’s vigil. “I have to go. Raina’s candlelight vigil is starting in a few minutes.”
“I’ll walk over with you.”
Katie showed up just after five. “Thanks for being on time.” Jackson was careful in his praise. Too much and it annoyed her.
“That’s me. Dependable as clockwork.”
Jackson gave his daughter a quick hug. “Let’s get going on dinner. I have to go out in a while to attend a candlelight vigil.”
“You’re serious?” Katie gave him a look. “For who?”
“A murder victim.”
“Did you know her?”
“I’m getting to know her now. But I’m attending the vigil to get a good look at the men in the crowd.”
“I want to go with you. I’ve never been to a candlelight vigil.”
“I’d like to take you. But if I decide to question or follow someone, your presence will be a problem.”
“Okay.”
They grilled teriyaki chicken on the back deck despite the cold and the warnings about the dangers of cooking meat at high temperatures. He and Katie both loved grilled anything. Jackson threw on some zucchini to make the vegetable police happy. Katie made a face. He was not a good cook, but he was trying to be a good father and have dinner with his daughter as consistently as possible.
About two hundred women gathered downtown in front of the old federal courthouse on the corner of Oak and 8th. In Eugene, if you held any kind of rally, this was the spot. For large gatherings, the police diverted traffic, but tonight the crowd barely spilled onto the sidewalks. Snow caps and scarves were the norm, although the mass of dark silhouettes still hunched against the cold. Everyone carried candles, although they had not yet been lit.
Jackson moved slowly through the dense crowd, catching only a few surprised looks. A first, he spotted only one other male. He was young, and Jackson suspected he was there with his mother. He watched as the middle-aged woman next to the teenager leaned over and whispered a comment. Another woman moved to the top of the steps and began to speak. She had no microphone, but her powerful voice carried across the quiet crowd.
“We are gathered tonight to honor the life of Raina Hughes…”
Jackson kept moving, giving everyone a quick once over. It was not easy picking men out of the crowd. Many of the women had short hair, and everyone was dressed in long pants, jackets, and warm head coverings. He soon spotted a second male in the middle of the gathering. Jackson guessed his age to be about fifty, too old for the perp’s profile. The man seemed to have a little more space around him than others in the crowd. Was he here alone? Jackson memorized his face, then moved on.
A moment later, someone caught his arm. He turned to see a thirty-something woman with short black hair and glasses. “Hello, Mr. Jackson.”
Jackson realized it was Katie’s math teacher. He’d had a parent-teacher conference with her last month. What was her name? Ginger something. “Hello, Ginger.” He would have preferred to be more formal, but he still couldn’t come up with a last name.
“Did you know Raina?”
Jackson kept his voice low. “I’m investigating her murder.”
“Of course,” she whispered back. “It’s still funny that we should both be here.”
Was she a lesbian? Jackson wondered. Not that it made any difference. “Happens all the time,” he said. “In many ways, Eugene is still a small town.”
“Yes it is. I’ll let you get back to…investigating.”
They both moved off, and Jackson found himself looking more closely at the women’s faces. Who else did he know in this crowd?
Suddenly, the night brightened with the glow of hundreds of candles. Jackson held his place for a long moment, transfixed by the flickering light and powerful silence. In that moment, the collective grief overwhelmed him. He felt again the devastating loss of his parents, the long-ago loss of his little brother, and society’s loss of a fine young woman. Sooner or later everyone died, but that didn’t make it any less depressing. For a long moment he couldn’t move, paralyzed with grief.
The person next to him touched his arm, a gentle sympathetic squeeze. Jackson nodded at the young woman, then forced himself to move on and scan more faces. He was looking for a man in his mid twenties or early thirties, someone who didn’t belong here.
Jackson moved toward the back of the crowd near the main street. In a few steps, he came face to face with a male in his early twenties. Tears streaked the ponytailed man’s face. Jackson stepped in close and said, “I’m a police detective. What’s your name?”
“Paul Phillips.” He answered without hesitation and seemed more confused than alarmed. Jackson noted that this n
ame was not on his list of seven suspects.
“Why are you here?”
“Raina was my good friend.”
“How do you know her?” They were both whispering out of deference to the ceremony, so Jackson took Phillip’s arm and steered him away from the crowd.
“We went to high school together. Why are you asking all this?”
“I’m investigating her death.”
Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 02 - Secrets to Die For Page 15
